“Very disappointed in the way we finished, especially defensively,” Allen said. “There’s some things we’ve got to address.”

That criticism was delivered calmly but firmly, and it was deserved. IU says it wants to be a top-25 defense. This was nowhere near that.

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Indiana head coach Tom Allen meets with the media following the Hoosiers' 49-21 loss to Ohio State on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium.

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by Thursday’s result. Despite all the pregame hype — ESPN GameDay, primetime billing, Allen’s claim that this was the biggest home opener in IU history — Ohio State was a three-touchdown favorite, a final-four team last season with a fifth-year starting quarterback and designs on a national title in January.

But that line Allen had to walk Thursday night was also reflective of disappointment Indiana very much brought on itself, disappointment it must now answer with improvement.

Allen hasn’t been remotely shy about setting high defensive goals this season, and he shouldn’t be.

He has an impressive mass of returning production, All-Big Ten caliber performers at linebacker, cornerback and safety, and a defense fresh from the nation’s best statistical turnaround in 2016.

Ohio State wide receiver Johnnie Dixon runs past Indiana defensive back Jonathan Crawford for a 59-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind.(Photo11: Darron Cummings, AP)

So it’s not outside the realm of possibility that IU could meet that top-25 goal in most categories, or at least come close.

“From a schematic standpoint, they were just doing some things that put us in conflict,” Allen said. “You address one thing and it exposes another. We had a couple busts in assignments. I said all along, you make one mistake, it’s a big play.”

When Indiana (0-1, 0-1) flirted with an upset, it was because that defense was standing firm, holding Ohio State to just 2-of-7 initially on third downs, and forcing field goals when the Buckeyes looked like scoring touchdowns.

IU’s 14-13 halftime lead was down to Richard Lagow’s good work behind center, and Simmie Cobbs’ prolific return from last season’s ankle injury. But it was also down to that defense.

“They made great adjustments at halftime. I give them credit for that,” said senior All-American linebacker Tegray Scales. “We’ve just got to go back, watch film and clean up on our mistakes.”

IU elected to rush no more than three or four most of the night, content to give Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett time in exchange for shadowing him on scrambles and filling his passing lanes.

It didn’t work. He finished 20-of-35 for 304 yards, with three touchdowns. He was only sacked once, Indiana never really looked like picking him off and those two long touchdown catches came in part because the Buckeyes blocked their hosts out of the way so easily downfield.

“Some of those big plays in the third quarter, they shouldn’t have happened,” Allen said. “They should have been catches and tackles. Those are the plays that bother me.”

And that’s not even beginning to address freshman J.K. Dobbins’ 181 rushing yards.

Look, as opponents go, only Penn State can match Ohio State’s combination of talent and explosiveness offensively. This is about as good as it gets on IU’s schedule, and Allen acknowledged that, comparing the Buckeyes to some of the best SEC outfits he saw as an assistant at Ole Miss.

But Urban Meyer didn’t say all preseason that IU wanted to be a top-25 defense. Nobody set those expectations but the Hoosiers themselves. They set that bar.

Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell (21) is chased by Indiana defensive back Jonathan Crawford (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. Darron Cummings, AP

Ohio State wide receiver Johnnie Dixon runs past Indiana defensive back Jonathan Crawford for a 59-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. Darron Cummings, AP

Indiana's Ian Thomas (80) celebrates with Austin Dorris after Thomas caught a 2-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. Darron Cummings, AP

Indiana's Ian Thomas celebrates after making a 2-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. Darron Cummings, AP

Indiana's Ian Thomas (80) make a 2-yard touchdown reception against Ohio State's Jerome Baker during the second half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Darron Cummings, AP

Indiana's Ian Thomas, left, pulls in a touchdown reception against Ohio State's Jerome Baker during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. Darron Cummings, AP

Ohio State's J.T. Barrett, left, tries to pass as Indiana's Greg Gooch closes in during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. Darron Cummings, AP

Indiana's Richard Lagow in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Darron Cummings, AP